U4GM - How to Build a Farming-Only Character in Elden Ring – Step-by-Step Guide
In the sprawling and brutal world of Elden Ring, runes are the lifeblood of progress. Whether you're looking to level up your stats, buy items from merchants, or upgrade your gear, Elden Ring runes are an indispensable resource. As someone who’s spent hundreds of hours optimizing my farming strategies, I’ve found that building a character solely for farming is not only possible but also highly rewarding.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to build a farming-only character step-by-step, focusing on efficiency, survivability, and rune acquisition. Along the way, I’ll share tips based on my personal experience to help you avoid common pitfalls and maximize your gains.
Step 1: Choose the Right Starting Class
Your choice of starting class can set the tone for the rest of your farming journey. I recommend starting with the Bandit or Warrior class. Both provide a good balance of Dexterity and mobility, which are crucial early on when rune farming involves quick kills and avoiding hits. However, if you plan to farm areas with heavier enemies or bosses, consider Confessor or Vagabond for their higher survivability.
Step 2: Prioritize Farming-Friendly Stats
Focus your attribute points on:
Vigor: You’ll need enough health to survive encounters while farming.
Endurance: More stamina means more attacks and dodges before running dry.
Dexterity or Strength: Depending on your weapon of choice, higher damage will speed up farming runs.
Arcane: Essential if you plan to use item discovery boosting gear like the Silver-Pickled Fowl Foot or the Silver Scarab Talisman.
Personally, I went with a Dexterity and Arcane hybrid. It allowed me to kill faster and get better drop rates, which improved rune gains dramatically.
Step 3: Equip Farming-Boosting Gear
To maximize rune collection, certain gear pieces are non-negotiable:
Gold Scarab Talisman: This increases the number of Elden Ring runes you earn from each kill. It’s located in the Abandoned Cave in Caelid, and getting it early is a game-changer.
Silver Scarab Talisman: Boosts item discovery, which is helpful when farming for rare drops you can later sell for runes.
Silver-Pickled Fowl Foot: Temporarily boosts item discovery. I always keep a few in my inventory when doing long farming runs.
Step 4: Find Efficient Rune Farming Locations
Some of the best rune farming spots include:
Mohgwyn Palace: Accessible via Varre’s questline, this area is ideal for mid to late-game farming. The bird near the cliff can be sniped with a bow, giving a large number of runes per kill. This has been my go-to for days when I just want to rack up a few hundred thousand runes in under an hour.
Stormhill or Limgrave Soldiers: Early-game spots where enemies are weak and respawn quickly. Not the most lucrative but excellent for early rune farming.
Palace Approach Ledge-Road Site of Grace: Here, you can farm Albinaurics in seconds with area-of-effect spells or weapons.
Step 5: Use Spirit Ashes for Efficient Farming
Don’t overlook Spirit Ashes. Black Knife Tiche and Mimic Tear are both great options when farming tough mobs. They can help maintain aggro while you strike from behind or provide consistent damage output, speeding up your runs.
Step 6: Know Where to Buy Rune Arcs in Elden Ring
While not a core part of farming, Rune Arcs can provide temporary buffs if you're using Great Runes. If you’re wondering where to buy rune arcs Elden Ring, the best places include:
Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold – they sell Rune Arcs after offering the proper Bell Bearings.
Patches – another merchant who may offer Rune Arcs.
Rune Arcs also drop occasionally from online co-op or PvP, which I’ve used as a supplemental farming method.
Having Rune Arcs during high-stakes farming routes (like in Mohgwyn Palace) has saved me more than once. Their temporary buffs can turn the tide if you're outnumbered or under-leveled.
Step 7: Optimize Your Farming Routes
Once your build is complete and gear is in place, focus on consistency and route optimization. Set a time limit for each farming run. For example, I do 30-minute intervals and compare how many runes I earn per run. Over time, you’ll notice which areas and strategies give you the best returns.
Building a farming-only character in Elden Ring might not be the traditional approach, but if you’re someone like me who enjoys efficient grinding, it’s absolutely worth it. Not only do you gain mastery over key zones, but you also accumulate a fortune in Elden Ring runes that can be transferred via New Game Plus or used to fully max out other builds.
Remember to have fun and experiment. Farming doesn’t have to be tedious—it can be a satisfying loop when done right. Battle Tips:Exploring the Concept of Grace in Elden Ring: How It Impacts Gameplay